Sports

From left, Dalin Torresan, 16, dad Dean Torresan and Logan Torresan, 13, practice pulling at their rural Strathcona County home. The trio have all qualified for the World Armwrestling Chamionships in Brazil.

Ardrossan resident Dean Torresan and his sons Dalin and Logan have all earned berths in the World Armwrestling Championships after strong showings at nationals in Richmond earlier this month.

They are all going to Brazil to take part - Dean is making sure of that.

Dean had qualified for Worlds twice himself when he was 18 and 19 years old and never went, assuming opportunities like that would just naturally keep coming with the wisdom that comes with that age.

He never got the chance again, something he has regretted for more than two decades.

Then his sons became interested in armwrestling (called pulling by participants) and got dad back into the sport at the annual Pull in the Park competition at Sherwood Park Mall two years ago.

"My youngest son always wanted me to get back into it and he wanted to try it as well," said Dean, 44. "There was a tournament in Sherwood Park a couple of years ago and I took third in the left arm. Then the tournament came this April again and he kicked butt and the three of us joined the Edmonton Extreme Club and have been going great since then."

No kidding.

At the recent Canadian Armwrestling Championships, both Dalin, 16, and Logan, 13, won national titles in both left and right arms in their age divisions, breezing to spots at the Worlds.

Dean made sure he would be going along for more than moral support with a silver in the left and a bronze in the right in the master's division, enough to also punch his ticket through to Worlds in Brazil.

After throwing away two earlier chances to go to the global gala, Dean is more than just a little shocked he has a chance to cross this item off of his bucket list.

"I never thought I would have another chance at this," he said. "Friends and family have asked me many times over the years what was the matter with me and why didn't I go to something like this when I had the chance before? I was working and a young kid and just thought there would be lots of time to do something like that. But then more and more time passed and I was out of it. Life happened and I kind of fell out of it. It was a major regret. Hopefully I can take this off my bucket list now."

Making the moment even better is the chance to experience it all with his sons.

"Watching them at nationals was a pretty proud moment," Dean said. "Especially when you see them dominate the way they did. It really took me back to when I was competing at such a young age. There are people who have asked them how they managed to get this good. Speaking as the father who lives with them every day and knowing they don't do a lot of work, I guess it has to be genetics."

Getting a chance to represent Canada on an international stage is a dream come true.

"We're really pumped about it," Dean said. "We're excited and nervous, the whole nine yards. "Representing your country on a world level, that is something that I think you only dream about. I think anyone who competes in sports, whether it be at the Olympic level or elsewhere, I think they all dream of doing something like that. It's going to be one of the highlights of my life."

Of course opportunities often come with a price tag.

"The bottom line is there are the visas and the cost of flying. We are looking at around $15,000 for us to go out there," Dean said. "We're really hoping there are some sponsors out there interested in helping us out a little bit."

Strathcona County has long been a hotbed for armwrestling with a number of world champions living in the community including the likes of Tony Senger, Ron Highet and Laura Webb.

The Torresan's are hoping to be a part of that strongarm success and even contribute to the future of the sport in the community as Dalin and Logan hope to get a club started in Ardrossan.

"When I was in this sport at this age there were tournaments almost every weekend," Dean said. "Now there are just a handful of tournaments around the province. We want to get the youth back into it. It's an amazing sport. There is more than just strength. There is technique and all kinds of stuff. The more youth we get into it, the more the sport will grow."

The Torresans are not the only Park products heading to Brazil. They will be joined by fellow county resident Vern Martel, a veteran with world titles already under his belt and the winner of three national titles this year in Richmond.

The World Armwrestling Championships run Sept. 9 to 17 in Sao Vincente, Brazil.